By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter
(l to r) back row – Faculty Advisor Julie Morancy and club members Camilly Fernandes, Meredith Dane, Mira Denney and Caroline Dane; front row – Samantha Midgley, Caroline Kent, Julia Smith, Claire Wikander and Katy O’Connell
Photo/Melanie Petrucci
Northborough – A dedicated group of students at the Robert E. Melican Middle School make kindness a priority each and every day. These students are members of the school’s Kindness Club. On May 28, they painted a mural with positive thoughts and messages in a school conference room where they hold their meetings.
Now in its second year, the mission of the club is to spread kindness around the school community. The club, currently comprised of all girls in the sixth and eighth grades, has engaged in several different projects throughout the year to achieve that end. They sent acknowledgments of appreciation to teachers throughout the year and in October they participated in National Unity Day where they painted over 100 rocks orange with positive messages that they gave to teachers to share with their classes.
“In my job I like to help the kids be aware of each other and be aware of how to treat one another and have a nice school community,” explained school guidance counselor Julia Morancy, the faculty advisor for the club. “It’s been a very nice part of my job that I enjoy and I think the girls like it, too.”
Member Samantha Midgley described another project in which calendars were distributed to each classroom. Every day of the week had a quote, activity or challenge for the classroom.
When asked about one of her acts of kindness, Claire Wikander said that they made flowers for the teacher’s room and a video for the upcoming fifth-graders to help them feel comfortable coming to middle school.
Morancy shared that they also made Valentines for veterans and the kids wrote thank-you notes to someone that has made a difference in their lives.
“This club is really like the time when no matter what, I know that I’m going to be surrounded by really nice people and it makes all the stress in the world just go away,” shared Katy O’Connell.
She added that the club made posters for the Northborough Special Olympians when they competed at events.
“Basically, when I come in here it always makes me happy because Mrs. Morancy and all the people are really kind and supportive,” member Julia Smith said.
Caroline Kent shared that by helping others with acts of kindness helps her as well deal with things in her own life.
“Even though they are a very small group, they are making a big difference, not only in our school but in the world,” Morancy said. “It doesn’t have to be huge, it could just be saying thank you to somebody or telling a teacher you appreciate them or doing something just because it’s a kind thing to do. I think that is something that we really have to continue to teach to our kids.”